Receptacle



Dec. 11, 1962 E. o. JONES, JR 3,067,903

RECEPTACLE Filed Sept. 7, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 //v VENTOI? Earl 0.(Jones Jr.

HTTOP/VEY Dec. 11, 1962 E. O. JONES, JR

RECEPTACLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 7. 1960 United States Patent 013,067,903 RECEPTACLE Earl 0. Jones, Jr., Pittsburgh, Pa. (201 Twin PalmsCourt, 66th St. N., Clearwater, Fla.) Filed Sept. 7, 1960, Ser. No.54,492 1 Claim. (Cl. 220-42) This invention relates to the receptacleart and has particular relationship to partitioned receptacles such asthe drawer of a desk or the like. In its specific aspects this inventionconcerns itself with metal receptacles which have at least onemagnetizeable Wall such as a drawer of a steel desk and this inventionhas important advantages in its application to such magnetizeablereceptacles. In its broader aspects this invention is applicable toreceptacles of non-magnetizeable materials.

Partitioned receptacles in accordance with the teachings of the priorart may be provided with permanent slots or knock outs with which thepartitions are engaged. Such receptacles have the disadvantage that thepartitioned spaces are of fixed dimensions frequently unsuitable for theusers purposes. There are also prior-art partitioned receptacles inwhich the partitions are held by clamps frictionally secured to the sidewalls of the receptacle. Such receptacles have the disadvantage that theclamps are of complex structure and are difficult to manipulate. Inaddition such clamps do not lend themselves to the provision ofsub-partitions requiring supports remote from the side walls of thereceptacle.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a partitionedreceptacle which shall not suffer from the above-describeddisadvantages. Another object of this invention is to provide apartitioned receptacle having partitions and sub-partitions, thedimensions of which shall be capable of being readily set to suit thedesires of the users. A specific object of this invention is to providea novel stud particularly suitable for use in partitioning a receptaclesuch as a desk drawer and specifically a receptacle of steel furniture.

In accordance with the specific aspects of this invention a partitionedreceptacle is provided for such furniture as a steel desk which iscomposed of magnetizeable material. This receptacle includes a pluralityof studs each having a side, usually the base, through which a magneticfield may be impressed. The studs are disposed on the base of thereceptacle in any desired manner and support dividing partitions. Eachstud is held in any position in which it is placed by the magnetic forcebetween its base and the base of the receptacle. The studs may beslotted to engage the dividing partitions. The partition may, inaccordance with an aspect of this invention, be cut by the user fromproperly marked strips of plastic, wood or other material available tothe user of the receptacle. In accordance with a further aspect of thisinvention studs to engage the side walls of the receptacle may also beprovided.

In accordance with the broader aspects of this invention each stud mayhave a base of extended area and may be self-supporting. Such studs maybe used with non-magnetizeable receptacles such as drawers of woodendesks and need not include facilities for producing a magnetic field.

The novel features considered characteristic of this invention aredescribed above. This invention both as to its organization and as toits method of operation, together with its additional objects andadvantages will be better understood from the following description ofspecific embodiments taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective showing a receptacle in accordancewith this invention;

3,967,903 Patented Dec. 11, 1962 ice FIG. 2 is a view partly in sideelevation and partly in longitudinal section of a stud in accordancewith this invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view in perspective showing the manner in whichthe partitions and studs are engaged in making a receptacle inaccordance with this invention; and

FIG. 4 is a view in perspective with a section broken away of a stud inaccordance with a modification of this invention.

The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is a receptacle 11 such as the drawer of asteel desk. The drawer has a steel base 13 and side walls 15 which aremagnetizeable. Within the drawer there are a plurality of studs 17.

Each stud 17 is composed of a materal such as plastic and has a magnet19 embedded in its base. Opposite the base the stud 17 has cross slots21 and 23, preferably at right angles. The studs 17 may be produced bymolding with the magnet 19 as an inset. Each stud 17 is held in theposition where it is set by the magnetic force exerted by the magnet 19.

The receptacle 11 is divided into compartments 25, 27, 29, 31 bypartitions 33, 35, 37, 39 which engage the slots 21 and 23 of spacedstuds 17. The spacing may be set in any desired manner because it isonly necessary to overcome relatively small magnetic forces to move astud 17 from one position to another.

The partitions may be cut from strips of plastic or other suitablematerial which may be made available to the user of the receptacle. Eachsuch strip is of suitable heighth, for example one or two inches, and ofconvenient thickness to lend the strips the necessary stiffness. Eachstrip has uniformly spaced grooves 41. Each groove 41 is rectangular andis of such heighth that when a strip is engaged with a slot 21 or 23 ina stud 17 the top of the strip is flush with the top 43 of the stud. Thegrooves may be spaced with their centers a suitable distance, forexample two inches, apart. Inscribed lines 45 extend from the insideside 47 ofeach groove 41 on both sides of the line perpendicular to theside 47 at its center. The spacing between the lines 45 is about equalto the thickness of a strip. The partitions 33, 35, 37, 39 may be formedfrom the strips by breaking the strips at the desired points along oneor the other of the lines 45. So that the partitions may extend alongone whole dimension of the receptacle 11, like the partition 39, thespacing between the centers of the grooves 41 must be a sub multiple ofthis dimension of the receptacle. In-the case of cross strips such as 35only one-half the groove 41 engages the slot 21.

For mounting to the side wall of a receptacle a stud 51 as shown in FIG.4 may serve, This stud has a magnet 53 in its side and a single slot 55.

In accordance with the broader aspects of this invention self-supportingstuds like 17 may be provided. These studs may be used withnon-magnetizeable receptacles and may be fastened to the base of areceptacle by an adhesive.

While preferred embodiments of this invention have been here disclosed,many modifications thereof are feasible. This invention then is not tobe restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the spirit of theprior art.

I claim as my invention: 7

In combination with a container having a magnetizable surface anddividing partitions on said surface providing compartments havingdimensions selectable at the will of the user, studs on said surfacesupporting said dividing partitions, each said stud having a magnetapplying a magnetic field to magnetize said surface so that said studrests on said magnetizable surface by reason of the magnetic force andincluding at least one 'slot in an end thereof, at least one of saidpartitions extending into said slot supported by said stud.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSAtkinson Apr. 13, I897 Clarkson Sept. 18, 1900 Becker Nov. 24, 1908 10Luther Sept. 6, 1960

